Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Hypnotherapy NZ

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Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy: A Breakthrough for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Pain Relief

Tony Yuile

Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy: A Breakthrough for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Pain Relief

IBS Abdominal pain can have a devastating impact on quality of life‚ affecting your physical‚ emotional‚ social and occupational activities.

Although medical treatments play a key role in the management of IBS pain‚ psychological interventions have proven to be an essential adjunct to pain management and to improve individuals' overall well-being. This article explores one of the most effective psychological interventions, Gut Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH ).

IBS Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is a key criterion for diagnosing IBS (IBS). According to the Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria, a person must experience recurrent abdominal pain at least one day per week in the last three months, and it should be associated with two or more of:

  1. Pain related to defecation.

  2. A change in the frequency of defecation.

  3. A change in the form (appearance) of stool.

So, while other symptoms like altered bowel habits are also important, abdominal pain is a must-have for an IBS diagnosis.

The IBS Pain Experience

IBS pain isn't just uncomfortable; it can significantly impact your work and personal life. Typically located in the lower abdomen, this pain can be:

  • continuous or episodic. For some people it can occur every day, in others, it is more intermittent.

  • cramping or stabbing.

  • relieved by a bowel movement.

  • variable in intensity

  • more pronounced in women, especially during menstrual periods

What causes IBS pain?

The exact cause of IBS abdominal pain is not fully understood, but several factors are believed to contribute to it:

  1. Abnormal muscle contractions/spasms in the intestines: Abnormal contractions/spasms in the intestines can cause pain. These may be stronger and longer lasting than normal, leading to cramping and discomfort.

  2. Oversensitive nerve endings in the digestive tract: People experiencing IBS have a more sensitive digestive tract, and so experience pain from stimuli that people free of IBS, find non-distressing like bloating and gas.

  3. Visceral hypersensitivity. Visceral hypersensitivity means the gut becomes an “oversensitive alarm system” with a lowered pain threshold and amplified pain signalling. As a result, normal gut sensations are interpreted by the brain as painful or threatening experiences.

  4. Abnormal brain-gut communication/signalling: There may be issues with the communication between the brain and intestines, causing the body to overreact to normal digestive processes.

  5. Potential inflammatory and neuroendocrine dysregulation. In IBS, inflammatory and neuroendocrine dysregulation involves complex interactions between the immune system, endocrine system, and nervous system. This can cause modifications in pain perception pathways.

Gender and Age Group Variations:

Women typically report:

  • More frequent and intense abdominal pain.

  • Higher pain sensitivity.

  • More variability during menstrual periods.

Men typically report:

  • Less frequent pain.

  • Lower pain intensity.

  • More consistent pain patterns.

Age Group Variations:

Young adults (20-40):

  • Most intense and frequent pain

  • Higher emotional reactivity to pain

Middle-aged adults (40-60):

  • Moderate pain intensity

  • More stable pain patterns

Older adults (60+):

  • Less frequent and intense pain

  • More likely to have reduced nerve sensitivity.

The Brain-Pain Connection: Understanding Your IBS Experience

Chronic pain is generated, processed, and perceived by the brain. In the context of IBS pain, imagine your brain as an overprotective security system that's gone into hyperdrive. This system starts treating normal body sensations (like gas) as potential threats, creating a pain experience that feels very real – even when there's no actual physical damage in the gut.

The Pain Cycle: Physical Sensation → 2. Brain Interpretation → 3. Emotional Response → 4. Increased Pain Perception

Increased Pain Perception: Stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and fear can exacerbate pain. Additionally, negative beliefs about pain, such as viewing it as uncontrollable, can intensify the pain experience.

Enter Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy: A Proven Solution

This isn't your stage magician's hypnosis. This is a serious, clinically proven solution with over four decades of research supporting its effectiveness as an IBS treatment.

GDH is a specialized technique that targets the communication between your gut and brain. Here's why it's gaining traction:

1. High Efficacy: 70-80% of patients report significant improvement.

2. Long-lasting Results: Benefits can persist for up to 5 years post-treatment.

3. Holistic Approach: Addresses both physical symptoms and psychological well-being.

4. Drug free solution. Completely drug-free approach.

The key to the effectiveness of gut-directed hypnotherapy is that it addresses both the psychological and physiological aspects of IBS pain, creating a comprehensive approach to symptom management. It specifically targets the mind-gut connection, helping to break the cycle of pain by addressing both the psychological and physiological aspects of IBS.

What Gut-directed hypnotherapy targets:

Neurological Mechanisms:

1.       Resetting the gut-brain connection

GDH targets the communication between the gut and the brain, helping to reset and normalize this interaction. By focusing on the mind-gut connection, Gut-directed hypnotherapy helps retrain the brain to respond differently to signals from the gut.

2.       Reducting Visceral Hypersensitivity

GDH:

  • decreases the heightened sensitivity of the intestines to stimuli.

  • retrains the brain’s interpretation of gut sensations.

  • reduces the amplification of pain signals.

  • normalises the pain threshold for intestinal stimuli.

3.       Autonomic Nervous System Regulation

GDH:

  • shifts from sympathetic (stress) to parasympathetic (relaxation) state.

  • reduces overall gut hyperreactivity.

  • decreases sympathetic nervous system’s influence on intestinal function.

4.       Neuroplastic Modifications

GDH:

  • creates new neural pathways.

  • interrupts established pain signalling patterns.

Psychological and Physiological Components:

1. Stress Reduction

GDH helps:

  • switch off the Threat Response and turn on the Rest and Digest Response, thus calming the nervous system, and so, reducing stress-related exacerbation of IBS symptoms, including pain.

  • reduce inflammatory responses.

  • decrease the emotional amplification of pain.

  • amplify the effect of relaxation techniques.

2. Suggestion and Imagery Techniques

GDH:

  • uses guided imagery and specific, targeted suggestions to promote restoration of normal gut motility and functioning, which help reduce pain associated with abnormal bowel movements.

  • helps people experiencing IBS develop a more positive relationship with bodily sensations.

3. Psychological Coping Mechanisms

GDH:

  • increases sense of control over symptoms.

  • reduces anxiety associated with IBS.

  • improves overall pain perception and management.

Say goodbye to IBS pain and Reclaim Your Quality of Life

If you're tired of IBS pain affecting your professional and personal life, GDH offers a proven solution. It's not just about symptom relief; it's about reclaiming control over your personal and professional life.

Ready to Explore GDH for Your IBS?

To find out more about how GDH can help you reduce your IBS pain, and IBS symptoms it’s as simple as scheduling, a 30-minute consultation with me. Click here for the booking page.

Remember, managing IBS is a journey, and you've just discovered a powerful tool to help you along the way. Here's to your health and success!

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